Nine games ago, Jake Pemberton was the focal point in the “next player up” scenario.
The University of Denver men’s basketball team was moving along in its nonconference schedule and playing host to Air Force.
Pemberton, a sophomore guard who had not played much as a freshman, was coming off the bench for the Pioneers.
But that changed when C.J. Bobbitt, one of three freshman starters for the Pioneers, was sidelined with mononucleosis. Pemberton moved into the starting lineup.
“I don’t care about being a starter, but I’m going to take advantage of whatever playing time I get,” Pemberton said this week. “Any playing time I get, I’m going to take advantage.”
DU coach Joe Scott must have liked what he saw. Pemberton played the entire 40 minutes in a 61-59 victory over Air Force on Dec. 5. Pemberton dished out a season-high eight assists Dec. 16 in an 81-77 victory at Northern Colorado. Pemberton leads DU with 46 assists.
“I like to give out assists,” he said.
Pemberton’s game is built around the little things — hustling, getting loose balls, rebounding.
“Coach says that it’s doing the little things that makes a team good,” Pemberton said. “I just like to try to do those things.”
Bobbitt returned to the starting lineup Wednesday for DU’s 78-75 victory over Oral Roberts, the Pioneers’ Summit League home opener. Pemberton provided a spark off the bench with six points, four rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes.
Scott said Pemberton has made a lot of progress since his freshman season.
“Jake has matured a lot from last year,” Scott said. “He’s a much better player with the year’s experience.”
Pemberton can thank his mother for getting him to DU.
“I hadn’t thought about DU when I was at Mountain Vista High School,” Pemberton said. “During the summer before my senior year, my mother showed me a letter inviting me to visit DU. She said I should go. I did, and I have no regrets.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@denverpost.com or @irvmoss
